The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-01-22
CASTLE ETTRICK.
An Old Soldiers Love
Story.
tCONTTSCED. J

might like cup of coffee. When shall
we reach Edinbugh:s
very early in the morning" said Percy,
and unfortunately there's not q train 10
our place until nearly mid day"
"Ohi but l call that fortunate, said Miss
Browne. "We can breakfast at an hotel
and 90 round together. | have never seen
Edinburgh. My Scotch friends tell me it is
the most wonderful place in the universe"
"All the universe but Glasgow said
Percy, with laugh We'll, good-evening.
We must take our places.
A few moments later, and they were
moving slowly out OF the station.
In the ladies carriage everything went
smoothly. Veronica, who could be, when
she chose, one Of the most charming COM
panions in the world, set herself at once TO
win Milly's heart and to conquer Lefty s
shyness. Before they had been an hour in
the train she.had succeeded. The young
girls had forgotten that she was rich,
handsomely dressed woman of the world.
They were listening to her stories. which
were exceedingly amusing, and giving their
own little stories in return. They We're
telling her what they knew about the towns
and villages which were, or seemed to be,
flying past them, and admiIing with her
the brilliancy of the July sunset. Alilly
cried out that she would see far better skies
in the North. "Wait till September" she
said, "or October. Then you will see. You
would think sometimes that the moors were
on fire."
But don't know that l shall stay in The
North SO long" said Miss Browne.
"Oh! hope you will, | hope You will, .
cried Milly, and timid little Lefty echoed
the wish.
well, must see how get on. If you
III d. ~. l.
are, said Veronica, with smile.
Percy is interesting" said Milly earn
estly. ooh! Miss Browne, you ought TO
see what lie is. But I'm afraid he won be
a, home very long. think it's a shame
that people should have TO go away SO far.
And there are lots of soldiers wanted in
England"
"You weuld not have your brother STAY
at-home soldier, SIilly?" said her COVER
ness.
Eyes, would, | would, cried the child.
Il should like him TO stay at home always.
Why shouldn't he? We want to be taken
care of as well as the people in Africa"
"Nf course we do" said Miss Browne.
But Lefty said softly, II am afraid We
can't choose, Milly. We must all be con-
tented to 60 where We are sent"
In the carriage where Colonel Lyndon
conversation. Percy, who was tired by the
rapid travelling and successive excitements
OF the day, doZed off early. The Colonel
remained awake, gazing out quietly upon
the changing sky and revolving many
thoughts in his mind. He was accustomed
to long vigils. Seated at the door of his
tent, in the sweet starry nights of the In
dian winters. or in barracks at station in
the plains, when the earth was steaming
all night with the heat which the fierce
tropical sun had drawn up out of her
bosom, or riding i'll the small hours of the
morning from barracks TO camps, he had
often outwatched the stars, and such mo-
rnents he had found favorable to thought.
Many knotty point he had settled with
himself many problem he had striven TO
solve, many hish thought-such thoughts
as make the cheek suddenly fush, and the
eye TO kindle-had come to him when the
world around him was wrapped in slumber.
He had no particular problem before him
now, nor any hankering after abstract
thought. And Vet he was glad of the quiet
hours. He was thinking of the strange in
CAPABILITIES of foItune-wondering why one
human being should be born to every sort
Of privilege and observance, while another
had nothing. This puzzle followed him
through the night.
We shall think, perhaps, that our Colonel
was man of violent theories-one who
thought lightly of loosening the laws of
property and bringing in anarchy, by de-
stroying the bands that hold society togeth-
or. 1t was not SO. Had we asked him, in
fact, about his politics, he would have
told rs that he was "a faithful disciple of
The old school" Whence, then, had this
new feeling of discomfort against tie gen.
eral order of things arisen?
The image that followed the Colonel
through the night, haunting him even in
his brief half hours Of sleep, may par
tally explain the mystery. II was of a fair
haired girl, dressed in plain travelling gar.
ments. with timid, appealing eyes as blue
as the sky of the East, and most delicate
features. That a creature so tender should
be cast upon the world, should have to earn
her bread by the labor of her hands, should
live in the houses Of strangers, this, to the
great heart of the old soldier, was incon-
ceivable.
Occasionally, through that long night, he
thought of the other girl whose acquaint-
ance he had made, and whenever he
thought of her he smiled. He admired
her; no man with his full senses about him
could have failed to do so. But take care
of her! 1t was absurd. She was more
than able to take care of herself and of my
number of people besides. Strange,
strange We're the inequalities OF fortune
Further than that, the Colonel, with all his
deep thinking. could not advance.
At York he peeped into the ladies car
mage, and. finding them awake, brought
them coffee and rolls. There were no other
stoppages, except of few moments at a
time. Finally they all met safely on the
platform of the station at Edinburgh, where
I
Colonel Lyndon III the least-that Miss
Veronica Browne, who looked as fresh and
brisk as if she had been all night lonp in
q comfortable bedroom instead of a railway
carriage, was prepared to take them all in
hand.
I'VE are all going to the Palace Hotel,
she said. NV uncle wrote for rooms
there, and 10 have breakfast ready. Wen
rest for an hour before we look round Ed
inburgh. Milly has promised 10 show NE
eyerything-the Castle and the dear old
town, aud the Cation Hill and Holyrood
| think. turning 70 Colonel Lyndon, zone
of you had better telegraph 10 Lady Flora
Winstanley, for We shall certainly not catch
the forenoon train
The Colonel would have temurred a,
this, for he did not know how Lady Flora
would like it, but Percy took the full re.
sponsibilitv upon his shoulders.
Come along he said. I'll telegraph il
your name. My mother has such conf.
dence in You know Sue won't mind
CHAPTER "
The IRAvFLEEs ARRIVE Al CASTLE E7 TRICK
The little party of travellers spent a
pleasant forenoon III Edinburgh. Captain
Winstanley and his little sister knew all the
ms and outs Of the beautiful city, and
Colonel lyndon. who had spent some OF
the best years of his boy hood in Scotland
vas, Miss Browne said, laughin8ly. as good
as guide book.
TO Lefty Morrison. as we'll as TO Miss
Browne. the sights of Edinburgh were new
and IN her quiet way she enjoyed looIdns
about her. Now and then she was troublst
oy pang OF uneaeiness as to what Lad,
Flora would say when she received the tel
egram; but the matter had been taken 50
completely ont of her hands. and tia
Colonel, who, without appearing 10 take
any particular notice of her, was con-
flnmully on fba match 20 -, .o.-